A BITTER TASTE OF FREEDOM

DIRECTOR: Marina Goldovskaya - UNITED STATES

In her fearless quest to uncover the wrongdoings of the Russian state, Anna Politkovskaya inspired awe in some and fear in countless others. An investigative journalist for Moscow’s liberal Novaya Gazeta, she was often the only spokesperson for victims of the Russian government. Her scalding criticism of Russia’s government-sanctioned war in Chechnya, A Dirty War, infuriated many in power. In 2006, at age 48, she was assassinated for simply doing her job. The murder remains unsolved, but for many that fact does not eliminate Vladimir Putin himself from suspicion. Drawing on unique footage of Anna’s conversations with filmmaker Marina Goldovskaya,...

In her fearless quest to uncover the wrongdoings of the Russian state, Anna Politkovskaya inspired awe in some and fear in countless others. An investigative journalist for Moscow’s liberal Novaya Gazeta, she was often the only spokesperson for victims of the Russian government. Her scalding criticism of Russia’s government-sanctioned war in Chechnya, A Dirty War, infuriated many in power. In 2006, at age 48, she was assassinated for simply doing her job. The murder remains unsolved, but for many that fact does not eliminate Vladimir Putin himself from suspicion. Drawing on unique footage of Anna’s conversations with filmmaker Marina Goldovskaya, Anna’s former university professor and friend, shot over a period of twenty years, the film shows the incredible story of a woman who gave her life for her convictions. (86 mins.)

Filmography: The Shattered Mirror (92), Lucky to be Born in Russia (94).

DARLING COMPANION

DIRECTOR: Lawrence Kasdan - UNITED STATES

In Darling Companion, Beth (Diane Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved doctor husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after a wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, a distraught Beth enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious young woman (Ayelet Zurer) in a spiritual search for her new canine soul mate. Each member of the search party is affected by...

In Darling Companion, Beth (Diane Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved doctor husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after a wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, a distraught Beth enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious young woman (Ayelet Zurer) in a spiritual search for her new canine soul mate. Each member of the search party is affected by the adventure, which takes them in unexpected directions, from the comically absurd to deeply felt emotions. The veteran supporting cast includes Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard, Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass, Diane Wiest, and a companion named Freeway. (103 mins.)

EL SICARIO, ROOM 164

DIRECTOR: Gianfranco Rosi, Charles Bowden - UNITED STATES

The lone voice and sole subject of Rosi’s harrowing film is a nameless former Mexican narco hitman (or sicario) who spent 20 years executing male kidnapping victims, raping and strangling helpless women, setting thieves on fire, and otherwise following the bloody orders of whichever esteemed drug cartel he worked for. His face obscured in a claustrophobic Juárez hotel room, he describes his “career” and the rampant corruption of the Mexican political and law enforcement establishments in matter-of-fact tones salted with machismo. All the while, he illustrates his tales with primitive drawings on a notepad and sometimes reenacts the roles of...

The lone voice and sole subject of Rosi’s harrowing film is a nameless former Mexican narco hitman (or sicario) who spent 20 years executing male kidnapping victims, raping and strangling helpless women, setting thieves on fire, and otherwise following the bloody orders of whichever esteemed drug cartel he worked for. His face obscured in a claustrophobic Juárez hotel room, he describes his “career” and the rampant corruption of the Mexican political and law enforcement establishments in matter-of-fact tones salted with machismo. All the while, he illustrates his tales with primitive drawings on a notepad and sometimes reenacts the roles of killer and victim alike. Adapting a version of the story Bowden wrote for Harper’s Magazine, this chilling testimony of a former college student and police cadet turned murderer—who remains free today—offers a grim portrait of the price of the Mexican-American drug trade. (80 mins.)

FIRST POSITION

DIRECTOR: Bess Kargman - UNITED STATES

Just as Spellbound certified that spelling bees are akin to gladiatorial combat, Kargman proves that ballet is not for the faint of heart either. The film follows six ballet students, aged 9-19, as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix, a top competition at which the world’s leading dance companies and schools prospect for new talent. Some of the delightful youngsters featured include Michaela DePrince, an orphan from Sierra Leone nurtured by her American mom; Aran Bell, a boy dance wonder from a US military family; and Joan Sebastian Zamora, a Colombian youth with aspirations for a career with...

Just as Spellbound certified that spelling bees are akin to gladiatorial combat, Kargman proves that ballet is not for the faint of heart either. The film follows six ballet students, aged 9-19, as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix, a top competition at which the world’s leading dance companies and schools prospect for new talent. Some of the delightful youngsters featured include Michaela DePrince, an orphan from Sierra Leone nurtured by her American mom; Aran Bell, a boy dance wonder from a US military family; and Joan Sebastian Zamora, a Colombian youth with aspirations for a career with a classical company. As the high-stakes competition nears, we’re party to remarkable accounts of unthinkable sacrifices and heroic struggles. (90 mins.)

THE ISLAND PRESIDENT

DIRECTOR: Jon Shenk - UNITED STATES

The Maldives—200 tiny inhabited islands and 1,200 coral reefs in the middle of the Indian Ocean—are “the height of the good life, a cross between paradise and paradise,” says Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s president. Nasheed endured years of imprisonment, torture, and exile as a result of combating an often brutal dictatorship, but he now faces a worse evil than dictators: climate change. If sea levels continue rising at present rates, the Maldives will cease to exist. Shenk captures the beauty of the Maldives and Nasheed’s charm and charisma, following Nasheed as he navigates intricate backroom diplomatic battles, trying to forge...

The Maldives—200 tiny inhabited islands and 1,200 coral reefs in the middle of the Indian Ocean—are “the height of the good life, a cross between paradise and paradise,” says Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s president. Nasheed endured years of imprisonment, torture, and exile as a result of combating an often brutal dictatorship, but he now faces a worse evil than dictators: climate change. If sea levels continue rising at present rates, the Maldives will cease to exist. Shenk captures the beauty of the Maldives and Nasheed’s charm and charisma, following Nasheed as he navigates intricate backroom diplomatic battles, trying to forge international consensus on lowering carbon emissions. This witty, entertaining, inspiring, and urgent saga—an island David versus the Goliaths of China, India, and the US—climaxes at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen with 192 countries in attendance. (101 mins.)

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI

DIRECTOR: David Gelb - UNITED STATES

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar. For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi,...

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar. For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself as still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish, meticulously train his employees, and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. (81 mins.)

LAST DAYS HERE

DIRECTOR: Don Argott, Demian Fenton - UNITED STATES

In the basement of his parents’ house in suburban Maryland lives Bobby Liebling, former vocalist with the 1970s cult legends Pentagram. A band once described as the street Black Sabbath, Pentagram’s heavy rock and heavy metal riffs blew audiences’ minds. But something went wrong in their career trajectory and Liebling ended up battling many years of drug addiction. New friend, fan, and manager Sean Pelletier believes he can help Bobby quit his addictions and launch Pentagram once again. A combination of the unexpectedly hilarious, tragic, poignant, and of course rocking, Last Days Here offers a fascinating portrait of the vocalist,...

In the basement of his parents’ house in suburban Maryland lives Bobby Liebling, former vocalist with the 1970s cult legends Pentagram. A band once described as the street Black Sabbath, Pentagram’s heavy rock and heavy metal riffs blew audiences’ minds. But something went wrong in their career trajectory and Liebling ended up battling many years of drug addiction. New friend, fan, and manager Sean Pelletier believes he can help Bobby quit his addictions and launch Pentagram once again. A combination of the unexpectedly hilarious, tragic, poignant, and of course rocking, Last Days Here offers a fascinating portrait of the vocalist, the legendary band, and the fans who long to see Pentagram get the recognition they’ve long deserved. (91 mins.)

PELOTERO

DIRECTOR: Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin, Jonathan Paley - UNITED STATES

In the build-up to the most important day of their lives, two young Dominican baseball players confront competition and corruption to achieve their Big League dreams. Baseball is a way of life in the Dominican Republic. From the streets to the stadiums, young boys dream of one day emerging from the dugout onto a Big League field. From the time they can walk, kids practice with rolled-up sock balls and broomsticks, waiting for the day they are old enough to sign. That day comes at age 16 when they try out for professional teams. Pelotero follows two of the nation’s...

In the build-up to the most important day of their lives, two young Dominican baseball players confront competition and corruption to achieve their Big League dreams. Baseball is a way of life in the Dominican Republic. From the streets to the stadiums, young boys dream of one day emerging from the dugout onto a Big League field. From the time they can walk, kids practice with rolled-up sock balls and broomsticks, waiting for the day they are old enough to sign. That day comes at age 16 when they try out for professional teams. Pelotero follows two of the nation’s most talented hopefuls and their long, rocky road towards achieving their dreams. While their stories reveal a dark side of Dominican baseball—age falsification, steroid use, unrealistic dreams, and corruption—at the heart is a story of two boys battling incredible odds to play the game they love. (73 mins.)

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN

DIRECTOR: Linda Goldstein Knowlton - UNITED STATES

Somewhere Between tells the intimate stories of four teenaged girls. They live in different parts of the US in different kinds of families, and are united by one thing: all four were adopted from China because all four had birth parents who could not keep them due to personal circumstances colliding with China’s “One Child Policy.” Of the roughly 80,000 girls that have been adopted from China since 1991, these strong young women allow us to grasp what it is like to come of age in today’s America as transracial adoptees. At the same time, we see them as typical...

Somewhere Between tells the intimate stories of four teenaged girls. They live in different parts of the US in different kinds of families, and are united by one thing: all four were adopted from China because all four had birth parents who could not keep them due to personal circumstances colliding with China’s “One Child Policy.” Of the roughly 80,000 girls that have been adopted from China since 1991, these strong young women allow us to grasp what it is like to come of age in today’s America as transracial adoptees. At the same time, we see them as typical American teenagers doing what teenagers everywhere do—struggling to make sense of their lives. Issues of identity, race, and gender are brought to life through these articulate subjects who approach life with honesty and open hearts. (94 mins.)

Filmography: The Chef and the Architect (06), The World According to Sesame Street (06).

TO BE HEARD

To Be Heard is a riveting documentary that tells the story of three teens from the Bronx who use spoken word/beat poetry as a catalyst to inspire change in themselves and others. Karina, Pearl, and Anthony are in many ways your average teenagers. They call themselves “The Tripod” and they constantly support one another in their efforts to succeed, find love, and overcome life’s challenges. But they are also unique. The top talents in a poetry workshop called Power Writing, they use the power of the written and spoken word to articulate their deepest experiences. To Be Heard is the...

To Be Heard is a riveting documentary that tells the story of three teens from the Bronx who use spoken word/beat poetry as a catalyst to inspire change in themselves and others. Karina, Pearl, and Anthony are in many ways your average teenagers. They call themselves “The Tripod” and they constantly support one another in their efforts to succeed, find love, and overcome life’s challenges. But they are also unique. The top talents in a poetry workshop called Power Writing, they use the power of the written and spoken word to articulate their deepest experiences. To Be Heard is the story of poetry’s ability to transform lives and an exploration of a unique public education program that gives voice to those who otherwise might never be heard. “If you don’t learn to write your life story, someone else will write it for you.” (87 mins.)

Schaffer Filmography: The Wobblies (99), Fire from the Mountain (99), From the Ashes: Ten Artists (02).

UNFINISHED SPACES

DIRECTOR: Benjamin Murray, Alysa Nahimas - UNITED STATES

In 1961, in the expansive first days of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro asked three visionary architects—Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi, and Vittorio Garatti—to build the Cuban National Arts Schools—one school each for dramatic arts, modern dance, ballet, music, and sculpture—on what had been the golf course of a country club. But before construction was completed, the Revolution took a Soviet turn and suddenly the project was denounced as bourgeois and counterrevolutionary. The story has many more fascinating twists and turns as these radical, magnificent buildings become a prism through which we see the turbulent, ever-shifting history of Castro’s Cuba and...

In 1961, in the expansive first days of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro asked three visionary architects—Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi, and Vittorio Garatti—to build the Cuban National Arts Schools—one school each for dramatic arts, modern dance, ballet, music, and sculpture—on what had been the golf course of a country club. But before construction was completed, the Revolution took a Soviet turn and suddenly the project was denounced as bourgeois and counterrevolutionary. The story has many more fascinating twists and turns as these radical, magnificent buildings become a prism through which we see the turbulent, ever-shifting history of Castro’s Cuba and follow the fates of the three architects, now in their 80s, who would get a second chance to revitalize their utopian project. (86 mins.)